The Dallas Cowboys definitely have had a philosophy change and it showed on Thursday night they turned their draft card in.  

With their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith at 26th overall.

Why is this a philosophy change? Let's dive in.

The Cowboys have been notorious bargain bin shoppers when it comes to certain positions on their team. Defensive tackle would be one of those positions. Last year they signed nose tackle Jonathan Hankins, and they immediately saw returns on their investment. 

This offseason, they resigned Hankins to another one-year deal, and they just selected his eventual replacement. 

Mazi Smith is first and foremost, an athletic freak. He was number one on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List" for 2022.

He has registered 22 reps on the bench press of 325 pounds, not the standard 225 pounds that you see at the combine. He close-grip bench pressed 550 pounds, his vertical leap was 33 inches, and he broad jumped 9- 1/2 feet. In addition to all that his shuttle time was 4.41, and has clocked a 6.95 3-cone time. 

He attacks with great leverage, has immense power, he can two-gap, and eats up double teams from the offensive line. He will overwhelm guards with his sheer strength to rush the passer and collapse the pocket. 

The Cowboys' new defensive tackle is light on his feet and he can cross faces of opposing offensive linemen with ease. He could stand to add more pass-rushing moves rather than relying on his power most of the time, but that's not his main role.

Smith can play rotation snaps, while he learns from one of the league's best run stuffers.